Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Oli Scarff

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Leads His Last General Audience Before His Retirement

Guido MARZILLA

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI Leads His Last General Audience Before His Retirement

Guido MARZILLA

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI Leads His Last General Audience Before His Retirement

Guido MARZILLA

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI Leads His Last General Audience Before His Retirement

Guido MARZILLA

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI leads his final general audience before his retirement in St Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. More than 150,000 people jammed the piazza to bid Benedict farewell.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Oli Scarff

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Oli Scarff

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Peter Macdiarmid

In this photo illustration a Blackberry mobile phone displays Pope Benedict's last Papal Tweet on February 27, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

In this photo illustration a Blackberry mobile phone displays Pope Benedict's last Papal Tweet on February 27, 2013 in Rome, Italy. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Oli Scarff

Pilgrims congregate in St Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pilgrims congregate in St Peter's Square before Pope Benedict XVI's final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Franco Origlia

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child lifted up by the Pontiff's personal secretary Georg Ganswein, as he leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child lifted up by the Pontiff's personal secretary Georg Ganswein, as he leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Christopher Furlong

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives in St. Peter's Square for his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Franco Origlia

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Squareduring his final general audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Franco Origlia

Pope Benedict XVI attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Franco Origlia

Pope Benedict XVI attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI attends his final general audience in St. Peter's Square on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Pope Benedict XVI Holds His Final General Audience Before His Retirement

Christopher Furlong

A Swiss guard stands in front of the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI delivers his final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has held his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

A Swiss guard stands in front of the Vatican as Pope Benedict XVI delivers his final general audience in St Peter's Square before his retirement on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has held his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements.

Nyckelord

Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's... NyhetsfotoAndlighet,Benedictus XVI,Benedictus XVI avgång,Internationell sevärdhet,Levande ljus,Lägenhet,Människor,Petersplatsen,Pilgrimsfärd,Prästerskap,Publik,Påve,Religion,Vatikanen,Vatikanstaten,Vertikal,VigiliaPhotographer Oli ScarffCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesVATICAN CITY, VATICAN - FEBRUARY 27: Pilgrims and clergy members hold a candle-lit vigil in Saint Peter's Square, facing Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment, after his final weekly public audience on February 27, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The Pontiff has attended his last weekly public audience before stepping down tomorrow. Pope Benedict XVI has been the leader of the Catholic Church for eight years and is the first Pope to retire since 1415. He cites ailing health as his reason for retirement and will spend the rest of his life in solitude away from public engagements. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)